Integrating Telehealth into Primary Care Provision by Nurses: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Integrating Telehealth into Primary Care Provision by Nurses: A Feasibility Study

Background: Technology plays an important role in the delivery of efficient and effective care in primary care. However, the use of telehealth in primary care by nurses is limited. Education and training can provide nurses with knowledge, skills, confidence and competencies, to be able to integrate telehealth into daily practice. Aim: To test the feasibility of a telehealth training and to examine the effect on the use of telehealth in daily practice.

Method: A mixed methods experimental design. The quantitative data were obtained by a self-developed questionnaire and user statistics. The qualitative data included observations and interviews. The training was evaluated based on the four level evaluation model of Kirkpatrick.

Results: Nurses evaluated the training positively and found the training valuable for practice. Practical instructions about the used online health portal could be supplementary to the training as conceptualised. There was an increase of knowledge and self-efficacy The training did not lead to an increase in the use of telehealth in clinical practice. This was dedicated to the lack of computer skills, the lack of knowledge of the online health portal, the patient population and the increase in use is seen as a process that takes time.

Conclusion: The training is feasible on the first two levels from Kirkpatrick. The nurses reacted positively to the training and there was an increase in knowledge and self-efficacy. The training did not resulted in a change of behavior (level 3), because there was no increase in use.

Recommendations: More research is necessary to examine why there is no effect from the training on the use of telehealth in daily care. Future research can also focus on evaluating the training on a larger scale.